Effects of thymoquinone supplementation on cyclophosphamide toxicity of mouse embryo in vitro

Thymoquinone is the major active component derived from the traditional medicinal plant Nigella sativa, which has been shown to exhibit antioxidant property through different mechanisms in animal models. This study evaluates the prophylactic effect of thymoquinone supplementation on culture medium to ameliorate cyclophosphamide-induced alterations in cellular differentiation and proliferation during embryo development in vitro. Male and female mice were exposed to cyclophosphamide via a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection at 200 mg/kg. Sperms and oocytes were collected at day 33 and day 10 respectively, for insemination and fertilization in medium supplemented with thymoquinone(1μM, 10μM and 100μM). The stages of fertilization, embryo division, morphological effects and fragmentation were examined and compared between groups, 24 hours post-fertilization. Thymoquinone supplementation improved fertilization rates, significantly reduced the percentage of defects blastomeres of Type C (p50%, p<0.05) following paternal and maternal exposures to cyclophosphamide. The good quality embryos of Type A and Grade I fragmentation were not observed in the group without thymoquinone supplementation. The findings of this study showed that thymoquinone is a suitable exogenous antioxidant for preserving fair-quality embryos which can result into full term pregnancy

The prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa against Cyclophosphamide in the ovarian follicles of matured adult mice: A preliminary study

This study aims to assess follicle preservation in mature female mice with the provision of Nigella Sativa oil against effects of cyclophosphamide which can cause ovarian follicular loss. Forty-eight ICR mice aged 18 weeks were divided into 3 groups: group I = control, group II = cyclophosphamide-alone (50mg/kg) for 5, 10, 15 and 20 days; and group III = pre-treated with different doses of Nigella sativa oil (0.2ml, 0.5ml and 1.0ml/100g) for 5 days, all by intraperitoneal injection. The histology and the total number of ovarian follicles were studied. Results show that the number of primordial follicles following exposure to cyclophosphamide was significantly reduced (36.33 ± 5.86)as compared to the controls (86.67 ±32.52) at day 10 (p<0.05). There was also a significant reduction in the mean number of normal primary and secondary follicles (p<0.001), mean ovarian diameters (p<0.05) and an increased vacuolation with irregular distribution of granulosa cells. The numbers of normal primary and secondary follicles including ovarian diameters were significantly increased in the use of Nigella sativa as opposed to effects seen in controls and cyclophosphamide-alone groups at day 5. This study seems to suggest a prophylactic property of Nigella sativa in the reproductive system of female mice

Fish scales as a bioindicator of potential marine pollutants and carcinogens in Asian sea bass and red tilapia within the coastal waters of Pahang, Malaysia

Fish scales are inedible and hence thrown away as industrial waste, which is one of the major sources of pollution in the natural environment. The concept of a sustainable ecosystem, along with the growth of developing countries in the tropics, has made it essential to devise schemes to turn waste products into viable biotechnology materials. This study looked into potential biomaterial safety by investigating the levels of heavy metals and accumulation of potential carcinogens from the marine environment in scales of two brackish water fishes: red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer). The closed acid digestion method was used to measure the levels of lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Mean concentrations obtained indicated that L. calcarifer scales contained higher levels of the heavy metals, and it was observed that essential metals accumulated at higher concentrations compared to nonessential heavy metals in both fishes. Significant relationships (p , 0.001) were found between fish type and heavy metal accumulation for all metals assessed except for lead. Nevertheless, the metal concentrations were still lower than the national and international standard maximum permissible limits for human consumption. Thus, it can be concluded that fish scale waste could be treated as wealth in biotechnological industries for the reduction of toxic materials from waste effluents

The potential role of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) scales: allergic reaction test in mice

Red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of aquaculture’s most adaptive species. It is abundantly found in the wild and known to be cultured in several parts of the world. It is mainly a freshwater fish, inhabiting shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes but less commonly found living in brackish water. The concept of ‘waste to wealth’ has been applied widely as an alternative to waste reduction and environmental conservation. Based on these perspectives, the present study was conducted to assess possible medicinal and pharmaceutical values of the tilapia. The mice model of delayed-contact hypersensitivity test, the mice ear swelling test (MEST), was chosen for this study due to its ability to predict contact sensitization with less cost and time consumed. Four female BALB/c mice were tested in each group which included controls. Three different doses of scales powder at 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg in an acetone and olive oil (AOO) solution were formulated and applied to shaved dorsal trunk of the mice at induction phase, and to both sides of each ear of the mice at elicitation phase. From the observations made throughout the study period, neither erythema nor oedema was formed on the skin of mice treated with scales powder in AOO solution. Mice ear thickness increase showed percentage ear swelling of no more than 20%. Thus, the finding of this study showed that the scales of red tilapia fish did not induce allergic sensitization and could have an application in medicinal and pharmaceutical industries

Impact of thymoquinone supplementation on immobilisation stress-induced changes in reproductive characteristics of male mice

The aim of the current study was to investigate changes in the reproductive parameters during stress and the impact of thymoquinone during the period. The effects of stress were measured through immobilisation stress on mice. Group I was administered normal saline daily via intraperitoneal injection while Groups II and III were subjected to 2 and 6 hours of immobilisation stress respectively. Groups IV and V were subjected to stress for 2 and 6 hours respectively followed by intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg thymoquinone which was continued on alternate days. The level of significance was set at p&lt;0.05 and statistical analysis showed significant difference in testicular weight of mice in groups II and III compared to the controls but no significant difference was obtained for sperm count between all groups. Sperm motility, however, was significantly different among the groups under stress for 2 and 6 hours and that of 6 hours with the treatment of thymoquinone when compared to the controls. The histology of the testes also indicated a few alterations in comparison to the controls in the germinal epithelium and spermatogenic pattern in groups III and V

Islamic perspectives of reproductive and maternal health: what role can Nigerian Muslim religious leaders play in the prevention of maternal mortality? –With Particular Reference to Zamfara State NorthWest Nigeria

Reproductive and Maternal health are an important components of public health and medicine which are concerned with the complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing in all matters regarding reproductive system and health of mother especially during pregnancy.It implies ensuring that all women receive the care they need to be safe and healthy throughout pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. However, according to World Health Organization, millions of women all over the world do not have access to good quality health services during pregnancy and childbirth resulting in mortalities. Islam is a complete way of life. The Qur’an and Hadith consider pregnancy and child bearing as signs among other signs of the divine existence of Allah.The importance of maternal and reproductive is thus not unexplained in the Islamic perspectives. The study look at what role Muslim religious leaders can play in the prevention of maternal deaths and morbidities in developing countries. A qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews and focus groups discussion with a purposive sample of some Muslim religious leaders from Gusau local government area of Zamfara state northwest Nigeria in order to elicit information about the Islamic perspectives of reproductive and maternal health and the roles they can play in the prevention of maternal deaths among the Muslim communities. Muslim Religious leaders have a crucial role and contribution for the attainment and maintenance of good heath of women and children among Muslim communities through public enlightenment in the context of ‘ilm’, providing guidance through ‘Fatwah’ and community mobilization in the spirit brotherhood ‘ukhuwah’.Islam does not accept the “preventable death of a woman” due to childbirth or pregnancy. Thus, Islam encourages attendance of antenatal care visits and health care seeking

Thalassaemia: A study on the perception of patients and family members

Marked improvement in the management of thalassaemia has not been matched by progress in psychosocial rehabilitation as thalassaemia continues to pose challenges to patients and their family members. Few studies have been carried out in Malaysia to look at such issues. This study is therefore to explore the concerns, beliefs and feelings about thalassaemia. It was conducted in the year 2009 over 7 months on “focus groups”, in patients aged 8-22 years and parents attending Paediatric Clinic of Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan, Pahang. Results showed that concerns and adverse impact were related to lower grades in education, poor self-image, less chance of employment, marriage, financial burden and social integration. Compliance to subcutaneous iron chelator was poor. There were various concerns related to blood transfusion therapy. It is evident that thalassaemia greatly affects the psychosocial dimensions and a more structured long term psychosocial support is needed to improve quality of life of patients

Systems thinking approach on foetal abnormalities associated with alpha-fetoprotein level

Foetal complications associated with abnormal Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) levels are becoming a serious matter. The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) is substantially greater in the raised maternal serum-alpha fetoprotein (MS-AFP) group than in the normal MS-AFP group. The top three APOs in terms of occurrence rate in the increased MS-AFP group were structural foetal abnormalities, spontaneous abortion, and premature delivery. Low levels of AFP in the maternal may indicate a risk of Down syndrome (DS). This is an important matter that needs to be investigated and dealt with promptly. This research aims to investigate methods of diagnosis and screening on AFP foetal based on system thinking. It applies the systems thinking approach on foetal complications associated with AFP level from a theoretical perspective. The purpose is to provide an analytical and integrated method to deal with foetal complications associated with AFP level. This integrated approach comprises various analytical aspects, including conceptual framework, data analysis, evaluation of the diagnostic and screening methods. How systems thinking can contribute to improving all these aspects of foetal complication will be investigated. A systematic review of literature from various databases was conducted. The methodology also enabled a detailed explanation of the major problems of AFP in the form of a causal loop diagram based on the holistic view of the systems thinking approach. This research is expected to contribute in various ways on how systems thinking can contribute to overcoming foetal abnormalities associated with abnormal AFP levels. It is expected that the application of a systems approach could provide an effective method of analysis for understanding and managing the foetal abnormalities by considering all aspects in a holistic manner and clearer methods of intervention to reduce the cases

Awareness of vesicovaginal fistula among health workers in some health facilities of Zamfara state, Northwest Nigeria

The prevalence of obstetric fistula in Nigeria was found by 2008 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) to be 0.4%, suggesting there are approximately 150,000 women of reproductive age currently living with, or who have previously had, obstetric fistula. Fistula prevalence is higher in Northern than in Southern Nigerian zones. For instance, the prevalence of fistula in North Central Nigeria is 0.8%, followed by 0.5% in the North East and 0.3% in North West Nigeria. This study aimed at understanding the knowledge and level of understanding of Health workers in some selected hospitals and clinics in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria. The study was both a descriptive cross sectional and qualitative study of health personnel working in some health facilities in Zamfara State to gain an insight of their understanding and practice about vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) which is a common obstetric and maternal health complication among women in Nigeria during or after delivery. 68.3% of the respondents were females while 31.7% were males. There is no specialist consultant or fistula surgeon among the health personnel interviewed as only 11.7% of them were medical doctors while the remaining are nurses, midwives or community health extension workers. On their knowledge of fistula, 97.6% of them have heard of VVF, and 87% of them were of the opinion that early marriage causes complications during delivery or giving birth. Also 88% of them were aware of VVF as one of the problems associated with early girl-child marriage while only 61% of them knew that obstructed or delayed labour causes VVF. It is important to train and equip the lower cadre health and clinic personnel on VVF and how to prevent it as the management of VVF requires a specialized knowledge and expertise